Cuff attachment for trouser legs



Jan. 29, 1952 H G, LEWALLEN 2,583,861

CUFF ATTACHMENT FOR TROUSER LEGS Filed Feb. 28 1949 IE".LIEF l www 8 me/whom Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES'II'PATENT oFlllcE CUFF ATTACHMENT FOR. TROUSER LEGS Herschal G. Lewallen, Anderson, Ind.

Application February 28, 1949, Serial No. 78,863

This invention relates to garments and has special reference to an attachment for trouser' legs intended for use at the lower ends of such legs.

One important object of the invention is to provide a novel attachment for trousers which 2 claims. (c1. z-zaz) may be employed to cover the bottom edges `of trousers when such edges have become frayed or worn.

Another object of this invention is to provide aY novel attachment for the bottom ends of trouser legs to lengthen such legs.

A further object of the invention is to provide aV novel attachment of this character which may be made of any color desired thus enabling students and others to display such colors as ornamental finishes for trouser legs.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel attachment of this class adapted to form cuffs at the bottoms of trouser legs.

Still further the invention has for an object to provide an attachment for the above purposes wherein the attachment is held in place by spring action without the need of sewing or the like.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be presently apparent, the invention consists in general of certain combinations of elements and construction of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly claimed.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of trousers with the novel attachment applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1 with the middle portion of the section broken away; and

Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged detail section on the lines 3-3 of Figures 1 and 2.

As here shown on leg Ill of a pair of trousers is illustrated with the novel attachment, indicated in general at II, applied thereto. As shown in Figure 3 the leg I 0 has a folded hem portion I2 secured by stitching I3.

The attachment includes a tube of fabric. This tube is formed of two strips of fabric I4 and I5 having their longitudinal edges folded inwardly as at I6 and these folded edges are secured together by stitching Il. The tube so formed is doubled on a longitudinal line to form U-shaped channel as in Figure 3. Interposed between the strips I4 and I5 and spaced along the tube is a series of U-shaped metallic'sprlng clips I8 secured in position by stitching I9. :These clips have their upper extremities bent inwardly in opposed positions as at 20 and the opposed parts extend through the inner strip I4 and are roughened to grip the leg IU as for instance by teeth 2I.` The clips are formed to urge their ends together, and the device is applied by simply spreading the clips open, inserting the leg bottom in the channel and allowing the clips to close.

The attachment, which is removably positionable on the pant leg bottom, is thus of annular type, and presents a generally U-shape contour on any cross-section of the annulus formation, as indicated in Figure 3. The formation is made up of a pair of plies each having its free edge zone folded upon itself and then stitched together with the folded portions in facial contact, thus forming a closed annular pocket between the secured edges of the plies. This formation is folded upon itself with the secured zones substantially alined to form a pseudo cuff formation designed to be removably positioned at the bottom of a pants leg, said formation being of U-shape cross-section with upstanding legs or sides and a lower connecting portion, the legs and the connecting portion presenting the Walls of an open-top pocket formation into which the lower zone of the pants leg is received to produce the cuff effect appearance, being secured in such position by the spring clips located in the closed pocket formed between the two plies.

The pocket receives the spring clips, these being positioned in spaced-apart relation, as indicated in Figure 2, each clip also being of U-shaped contour with its free end zone bent inward at right angles to the direction of length of the clip legs. the free edges of the bent zones being roughened or toothed. For positioning the clips the ply walls of the pocket of one of the formation legs, preferably the inner leg of the formation which, in service, is located on the inner side of the pant leg bottom, are connected by loop stitching which embraces the width of the clip leg as well as connects the pocket plies, the stitching being in at least two spaced zones in the length of the leg (Figures 2 and 3). This has the effect of stiening the structure on the inner side of the attachment where it is opposed to the shoe in service and tends to prevent excessive wear. The opposite spring clip leg extends freely through the opposite leg of the ply formation. The inturned portions of both clips penetrate the inner ply in such manner as to provide exposed portions of the roughened or toothed edges.

In service, the upstanding legs of the ply formation are initially spread apart, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3, the resilience of the springs permitting this action, whereupon the assemblage is positioned about the pant leg bottom with the free end zones of the ply formation legs on the inner and outer sides of the pant leg bottom and its hem. The ply legs are then released and move into contact with and embrace the pant legbottom and its hem, with the projecting roughened or toothed face of the clips engaging the opposite faces of such bottom and Yhem, thus "anchoring the attachment in position. The` attachment thus is actually supported entirely by the exposed projected portions of the clips which engage the faces of the pant leg bottom and its hem. Obviously, .this permits positioning of the attachment adjustably on" theV having each of its free edge zones folded upon itself with the zones secured together by stitching with the folded portions in facial contact to thereby form a closed pocket between the plies, said element being folded upon itself to form a ueshape cross-section with the secured free edge zones oi the'plies forming the free end of the respective sides or upstanding legs of the U-shape cross-section formation, said element closed 'pocket containing a plurality of spaced supporting spring clips each extendingV into both legs of the U-shape cross-section formation and each being 'Y `iiedly positioned relative to the Vply formation pant leg bottom as long as the grippinglfaces f can engage both bottom andhem, thus enabling:

any desired elongation of the pant vleg at will.

One of the advantages of thespecic structurej-A is the fact that since the projecting portions of the clips are located in the vicinity of the infolded portions of the free end zone ofthe formation legs,positioning oi the attachment causes such upper ends of these upstanding legs to practicallyV hug both the exterior ofthe pant leg bottom and the leg hem Without being actually fastened to such bottom other than by the projecting portions of l the clips. This tends `to produce an external Vcu eect'without an actual cuff structure, and

Vin the pant leg includes an inturned. hem in the bottom zone and. wherein the attachment is removably positioned to embrace both leg bottom and hem, such attachment comprising an annular element of two-ply formation with eachy ply p by confining stitching positioned within the inner leg' of the Ushape cross-section formation.

2. 4An attachment as in claim 1 characterized in that each clip is of U-shape and includes an end zone bent inwardly at substantially right Y angles to the leg length with the free edges in confronting relation and each of serratedV tooth formation and with the tooth zones of the clips substantially.penetrating and extending through the. inner ply, whereby the upstanding legsof the U-shape openpoeket attachment are free .-to

swing laterally torapply the .attachment to` the Y pant leg bottom and then return to normal service positionzby spring actionthe projected and confronting teeth of the spring Hclip engaging the pant leg and the hem respectively in such normal position. Y l

, Y HERSCHAL G. LEWALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED vThe following references Aare of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 776,549V `Redington Dec. 6, 17904 897,476 lVIilliken Sept.' l, 1908 l 898,200 Elzas...V .g Sept. 8, Y1908 

